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North Must Invest in Media to Tell Its True Narratives – Prof. Kurfi

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Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi

 

Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi, a renowned scholar in mass communication from Bayero University, Kano, has called on Northern Nigeria to urgently invest in the media sector, stressing that the absence of strong northern media platforms has weakened the region’s voice in national discourse.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement organized by the Fulbe Development and Cultural Organization (FUDECO) in collaboration with the National Commission for Nomadic Education, Professor Kurfi lamented the collapse of legacy media institutions like New Nigerian Newspapers and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Kaduna. The event was themed “Consolidating the Outcomes of the IDRC-SPARC GES Research Findings on the Media Empowerment of Pastoralist Women in Kano State.”

According to Professor Kurfi, access to information is a powerful tool for societal development. “No communication, no society,” he stated, adding that women in rural areas, especially among the Fulani communities, must be educated on the value of information. He described the findings of the research presented during the event as a reflection of reality and not surprising to those familiar with gender issues in rural communities.

He referenced the existence of gender studies at Bayero University as a testament to the growing recognition of the need to investigate the different experiences of men and women, especially in media access and usage. Professor Kurfi said nearly 99 percent of newspapers in Nigeria are produced in the South, particularly in Lagos and Ibadan.

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“The flow of information is from the South. You cannot access what you do not own,” he explained. “What the southern press engages in is what I call media coinage. They shape narratives in ways that do not always favour the North, and while they avoid terms like ‘terrorist’ for the Igbo or Yoruba, the North is constantly labeled in such negative terms.”

Professor Kurfi emphasized that for the North to control its narrative, it must revive and invest in indigenous media institutions. He called for renewed support to expand the scope of research beyond Shagawa Ward in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, where the current study was conducted, suggesting that future studies should encompass entire local governments to get broader and more representative data.

Highlighting the importance of media literacy, he urged Fulani communities to use social media and digital platforms not only for entertainment but also for education and self-improvement. “Media literacy helps people to distinguish between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation,” he said. “Social media tools should be used to upload content that benefits individuals and society at large.”

He also stressed the importance of collaboration in research, stating that a single organization cannot address the information gap alone. “Since FUDECO has initiated this collaborative effort, we should now focus on defined research areas, seek funding, and investigate the real problems affecting the Fulani people,” he advised.

Professor Kurfi recommended that findings of such studies be documented and shared with policymakers and stakeholders to influence practical change. “Research like this must not remain on the shelves; it should inform planning and policy that uplift marginalized communities,” he said.

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APC Extends Membership Registration, Reschedules Congresses and Convention

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced a revised timetable for its internal activities, extending its electronic membership registration and rescheduling upcoming congresses and its national convention.

The decisions were reached during the 183rd meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) held on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party outlined the key changes.

The electronic membership registration exercise has been extended from January 31 to February 8, 2026. According to the statement, the extension follows requests from party stakeholders and is intended to allow more supporters and members to register or validate their membership.

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Furthermore, the schedule for party congresses has been adjusted. Ward congresses are now set to hold on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, while the National Convention has been rescheduled for March 27–28, 2026.

The statement also clarified that some states would be excluded from the forthcoming state congresses. Osun State, Ekiti State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are exempted due to upcoming elections, while Rivers State is excluded because of the subsisting tenure of the current party executive committees in the state.

Additionally, the NWC confirmed the constitution of a National Convention Planning Committee. The party noted that further details regarding the adjusted timetable and the composition of the planning committee would be communicated in due course.

These changes mark a significant recalibration of the APC’s internal electoral calendar as it prepares for its national convention and subsequent political engagements.

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Turaki-Led PDP Faction to Appeal Court Ruling, Affirms Legitimacy

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced it will appeal a Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan that refused to grant its request for an order of mandamus. The court, in its Friday judgment, stated that granting the order would amount to reviewing decisions of courts of equal jurisdiction—a ruling the faction described as “not unexpected.”

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, and posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the faction confirmed it has directed its legal team to file an appeal immediately and take all necessary legal steps to defend its standing.

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Despite the legal setback, the faction asserted that its leadership, which emerged from the PDP’s Ibadan convention, remains legally intact and unaffected. The statement called on members to stay calm and resolute, assuring them there is “absolutely no cause for alarm” and that the party’s “rebirth movement remains firmly on course.”

The development is part of an ongoing internal dispute over leadership and legitimacy within the PDP, with rival factions seeking judicial affirmation. All eyes are now on the appellate courts, whose decisions could significantly influence the party’s structure and direction ahead of future political activities.

The faction expressed confidence that higher courts would ultimately uphold its position, stating it “awaits the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts.”

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Fayemi Denies Alleged Closed-Door Meeting with Kwankwaso

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has denied reports claiming that he held a closed-door meeting with former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, at his Abuja residence.

Fayemi, immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, dismissed the report in a statement issued by the Head of his Media Office, Ahmad Sajoh, on Thursday, describing the claim as false and urging the public to disregard it.

The report, which circulated on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, was shared by several social media handles alongside an old video clip showing Fayemi greeting Kwankwaso at his residence.

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According to the statement, the former Ekiti governor had met Kwankwaso only once in the past year and not in any private political setting.

“Dr Fayemi has only met Senator Kwankwaso once in the last year, and that occasion was at the public book launch of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN,” the statement said.

It added that, “At no time has Dr Fayemi held, or is he holding, any closed-door political meeting with Senator Kwankwaso as suggested by the post.”

The former governor acknowledged that he and Kwankwaso have been friends since their time as governors, but stressed that their relationship is personal and non-partisan.

He noted that the friendship is “based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to the progress of Nigeria, rather than on any political alignment.”

Fayemi also cautioned against attempts by political actors to attach partisan interpretations to private relationships, noting that many of his friends and associates are either not involved in partisan politics or belong to different political persuasions.

The statement added that Fayemi’s associates “span the entire spectrum of Nigeria’s political terrain.”

It, therefore, reaffirmed the former governor’s commitment to national unity, principled engagement, and responsible public discourse.

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